Sprinkler



w. E. KOVlCK Erm. 2,986,339

SPRINKLER May 30, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 27, 1958 WILLIAM 5.K0 wax JOHN A. ROVER INVENTORJ HUEBNER & WORREL A77Z RNEK9 y 1961 w. E.KOVICK EIAL 2,986,339

SPRINKLER Filed Jan. 27, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 //l 7 Me so we T Me /10W/LL/AMEKOV/CK JOHN A. ROVER INVENTOR HUEBNER & WORREL A7TORNEK5 UnitedStates Patent 2,986,339 SPRINKLER William E. Kovick and John A. Royer,Fresno, Calif., assignors to Buckner Manufacturing Company, Inc.,Fresno, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Jan. a7, 1958, Ser.No. 711,390

9 Claims. Cl. 239-230 The present invention relates to a fluid motivatedsprinkler adapted to discharge fluid over a predetermined distributionpattern and more particularly to such a sprinkler in which the relativesaturation of diflerent areas within the fluid distribution pattern iscontrollable.

Fluid driven, rotary, oscillated, traveled and reciprocated sprinklersare well-known and have taken numerous forms in the past. For example,the impact-driven, stepped progression rotary sprinkler provides fluidconducting nozzles which emit one or more streams of water in inclinedtrajectories and rotates in incremental steps around a predeterminedupright axis.

When it is desired to distribute water substantially uniformly over agenerally circular area circumferentially of the sprinkler, suchsprinklers and others are satisfactory for the purpose. However, when itis desired to irrigate certain segments of the area more or lessthoroughly than other segments of such area, such sprinklers, as knownprior to the subject invention, are not satisfactory. For example, inthe irrigation of a golf course, it is conventional to position a seriesof rotary sprinklers in substantial alignment longitudinally of thefairways and on such centers that their spray patterns overlap. Althoughthis overlapping has been found necessary to obtain adequate coveragealong the margins of the fairways, the overlapped areas frequentlyreceive too much water when the sprinklers are adjusted to provideadequate irrigation for the non-overlapped areas.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a fluidmotivated sprinkler in which the relative saturation of different areaswithin the distribution pattern of the sprinkler is controllable.

Another object is to enable substantially uniform distribution of waterin an area in which a plurality of sprinklers are arranged so as to haveoverlapped spray patterns.

Another object is to enable the predetermined control of the speed ofmovement of sprinklers so as to efiect speed variations in selectedsequence and extent.

Another object is to resist movement of a movable sprinkler through apredetermined segment of its path of movement.

Other objects are to provide a sprinkler of the nature described whichis simple and economical to construct, adjust and operate; dependable inaction; durable in construcfion; and adapted for use in various types ofmotivated sprinklers and in various operational environments.

These, together with other objects, will become more fully apparent uponreference to the following description and accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a sprinkler embodying the principles ofthe present invention and shown connected to a fluid supply conduit.

Fig. 2 is a somewhat enlarged, fragmentary vertical section of thesprinkler with portions thereof shown in side elevation.

Fig. 3 is a substantially horizontal section taken on an horizontalplane at a position represented by line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the sprinkler rotatedninety degrees from the position in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating application of the subjectsprinkler to strip irrigation as on a golf course or the like.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, a supply conduit 10 isfragmentarily illustrated in cross section in Fig. 1 and provides anupwardly disposed substantially cylindrical, internally threaded outletreceptacle 11, such as the side outlet of a pipe T. A sprinkler 14,incorporating the features of the present invention, includes anelongated upwardly disposed tubular housing 15, having a cylindricallower threaded section 16 screw-threaded in the receptacle of theconduit and thus rigidly secured thereto, a hexagonal wrenchmanipulating section 17, a substantially cylindrical externally smoothcollar mounting section 18, and a substantially cylindrical springmounting section 19 diametrically smaller than the collar mountingsection. An annular shoulder 20 is therefore provided between the collarand spring mounting sections.

An elongated cylindrical tube 25 is rotatably concentrically mountedwithin the housing 15 and includes a lower radially extended flange 26in longitudinally endwardly spaced relation to the lower section 16 ofthe housing, and an externally threaded end 27 upwardly extended fromthe spring mounting section 19 of the housing. A plurality of washers 28and 29 are interposed the flanges of the tube and the housing incircumscribing relation to the tube. Preferably the washers 28 are madeof rubber or other compressible wear-resistant material and arerespectively in engagement with the flange and the housing while theintermediate washer 29 between the rubber washers is made of Teflon. Thetube is in fluid communication with the supply conduit '10 forconducting fluid upwardly through the housing.

A generally Y-shaped fluid distributing body 35 includes a tubularcenter section 36 screw-threaded on the upper end 27 of the tube 25, anupwardly laterally extended short tubular section 37 in communicationwith the center section, and an upper, oppositely laterally extended,longer, tubular section 38 likewise in communication with the centersection and generally oppositely extended from the short section insubstantially the same plane therewith. Nozzles 39 and 40 arescrew-threaded on outer ends of the long and short lateral sections fordirecting jets of fluid outwardly of the body.

A cylindrical post 45 is rigidly upwardly extended from the centersection 36 of the fluid distributing body 35, and a cylindrical sleeve46 is rotatably fitted on the post. A mounting bar 47 is rigidly securedto the bushing and transversely outwardly extended therefrom insuper-adjacent relation to the short lateral section 37. A fluiddeflecting member 48 is mounted on the bar and is adapted for movementwith the bar between a position in the path of fluid ejected from thenozzle 39 and a position out of said fluid path. A counterweight 49 ismounted on the sleeve on the opposite side thereof from the mountingbar. An arcuate abutment plate 50 is rigidly secured to the shortlateral section 37 adjacent to its outer end and provides an upperdisk-shaped portion rotatably fitted on the upper end of the post. Acoiled spring 51 encircles the bushing and has opposite endsrespectively connected to the sleeve and to the disk-shaped portion ofthe abutment plate for yieldably urging the mounting bar into engagementwith the abutment plate. Thus, the spring urges the fluid deflectingmember into its position in the path of the jet of water being ejectedfrom the nozzle 39. The tube 25 and described elements borne therebyconstitute a sprinkler head and are so referred to for descriptiveconvenience. The sprinkler structure now described is well-known as animpulse or impact operated sprinkler and typifies sprinklers whichconveniently embody the principles of the present invention.

In operation, water under pressure is delivered upwardly through thetube 25 into the. upper sections 37 and 38' the bar strikes the abutmentplate 50 to rotate by impact the fluid distributing body and the tube 25within the housing 15 an incremental amount. The stream of water againforces the fluid deflecting member away and the action is repeated torotate the fluid distributing body in stepped progression around anupright axis coaxial with the tube 25.

The subject invention provides an annular collar 55 having a concentricintermediate bore 56 fitted on the collar mounting section 18 f thehousing 15, an upper diametrically enlarged bore 57 circumscribing thespring mounting section 19, and a lower diametrically enlarged bore 58depending in circumscribing relation to the upper end of the wrench head17. The collar provides diametrically opposite, radially outwardlyextended brake segments 60 providing outwardly disposed convex surfaces61 substantially concentric to the tube 25 and having opposite ends 61a.The braking surfaces 61 may be constructed to extend over arcs of anydesired extent but for strip irrigation preferably traverseapproximately ninety degrees, are in the same horizontal plane, are ofthe same radius, and are concentric. The collar provides diametricallyopposite retracted surfaces 62 interconnecting opposite ends of thebraking surfaces spaced inwardly from a circle containing the brakingsurfaces. The collar also has a substantially cylindrical mountingportion 64 axially extended from the braking portions. An annular ledge65 is provided between the mounting portion and the braking portions. Asetscrew 66 extends radially through one of the retracted surfaces ofthe collar and has an inner end which engages the mounting section 18 ofthe housing for adjustably securing the collar in rotatably adjustedpositions on the housing.

An O-ring 7i), preferably of Teflon, and a brass washer 71 circumscribethe spring mounting sections 19 of the housing 15 with the O-ringdisposed adjacent to the fluid distributing body 35 and with the washeradjacent to the collar 55. A coiled compression spring 72 encircles thespring mounting section and bears against the shoulder 20 within theupper bore 57 and against the washer for urging the O-ring intoengagement with the fluid distributing body.

A mounting bracket 76 includes a substantially circular hub 77 rotatablyjournaled on the mounting portion 64 of the collar 55 and supported onthe ledge 65. The bracket includes diametrically aligned arcuate arms 78radially outwardly extended in opposite directions from the hub and thenextended longitudinally of the housing 15 in laterally spaced relationto the collar. The bracket also includes coaxial sleeves 79 integralwith the arms and each having an open outer end 80 and an annular innerrim 81 circumscribing an inner open end 82. The sleeves also provideinternal threads 83 adjacent to their outer ends. The axis of thesleeves extends substantially diametrically of the tube 25 and is in thesame plane as the braking surfaces 61 of the collar 55.

Tubular holders 86 are longitudinally slidably fitted in the sleeves 79and provide axial bores 87 concentric to the sleeves. Each holder has anannular partition adjacent to its outer end. Cylindrical friction padsor wiping members 89, preferably of resiliently compressible material,such as rubber or the like, are compressibly fitted in the bores 87 ofthe holders against the partitions and extend inwardly toward the collarslidably through the inner open ends 82 of the sleeves 79.

An adjustment bolt is screw-threaded in each of the outer ends 30 of thesleeves 79 and includes a manipulating head 96 and a shank 97. The shankhas an inner socket 98 substantially concentric to the bore 87 in itsrespective sleeve, and coiled springs 99 are interposed the partitions88 and their respective shanks, being fitted in the socket of thelatter. Each spring is maintained under slight compression so asyieldably to urge its respective holder and thus the friction padmounted therein in inwardly extended position through the inner open end82 of the sleeve. The extent of the compression of the springs and thustheir pad urging effect are adjustable by means of the adjustment bolts.

It will be evident from the foregoing that the mounting bracket 76 isfreely rotatably mounted on the collar 55 for rotation in asubstantially circular path concentric to the tube 25. A driving finger165 is rigidly secured to the center section 36 of the fluiddistributing body 35 and longitudinally extended in laterally spacedrelation to the housing 15 into the path of rotation of the arms 78 ofthe mounting bracket. The structural arrangement is such that thedriving finger engages one of the arms incident to rotary movement ofthe fluid distributing body thereby to impart rotation to the bracket.

Operation The operation of the described embodiment of the subjectinvention is believed to be readily apparent and is briefly summarizedat this point.

The operation of the sprinkler 14 is conveniently described inconnection with the irrigation of a golf course and the illustration inFig. 5 is provided for this purpose. The sprinklers 14 are arranged insubstantially equally spaced relation along a line and so that theirspray patterns overlap. For purposes of reference, each sprinklerdistributes water over a substantially circular area generally indicatedby the numeral 110, and the overlapped segments of the spray patternsare indicated by the numeral 111. Further, the points of intersection ofthe circular spray patterns are indicated by the numeral 112. Eachsprinkler is adjusted so that its braking portions 60 are centered on animaginary line joining the sprinklers. The precise positions of thebraking portions depend on several factors such as the spacing of thesprinklers, and the magnitude of the spray areas 110, both of whichdetermine the points 112 of spray pattern intersection. The end edges61a of each braking portion should lie approximately along radial linesextended through said points of intersection and the axis of sprinklerrotation. Thus it follows that the length of the braking surfaces 61depends on the length of the are between adjacent points 112 of spraypattern intersection. The length of the braking surfaces, therefore,varies with known characteristics of the sprinkler on which the subjectinvention is employed and establishes the spacing which must bemaintained between the sprinklers for effective action of the subjectspeed controlling apparatus. Physical adjustment of the collars 55 isaccomplished by loosening the set screws 66 and rotating the collars ontheirrespective housings 15. The setscrews are then tightened to securethe collars rigidly in the described positions.

The bolts 95 of each sprinkler 14 are also adjusted in such a mannerthat the pads 89 engage the braking surfaces 61 when the bracket 76 isrotated to position the pads in opposed relation to such surfaces.

Fluid is delivered from the conduit 10 upwardly into each sprinkler 14through the tubes 25 and the fluid distributing bodies 35. Eachsprinkler rotates in stepped progression, as is well-known and describedabove. Considering the action of one sprinkler only, the finger Strikesan arm 78 of the mounting bracket 76 during each mistress increment ofrotation of the fluid distributing body to impart incremental rotarymovement to the bracket. When the friction pads 89 are opposite to theretracted surface 62 of the collar 55, the fluid distributing bodyrotates at a predetermined speed as if the device of the presentinvention were not employed and water is distributed onto overlappedareas 111 from the upper sections 37 and 38 of the body.

However, when the pads 89 contact the braking surfaces 61, frictionalengagement between the pads and the surfaces retards rotary movement ofthe bracket 76. The extent of frictional engagement between the pads andthe braking portions 60 is adjusted by threading the bolts 95 inwardlyor outwardly. The speed of rotation of the fluid distributing body isthereby reduced from its speed when the pads do not engage the brakingportions, that is when the pads are opposite to the retracted surfaces.Because of the slower movement, a greater quantity of water is allowedto fall on the non-overlapped segments of the area being sprinkled thanon the overlapped areas 111. In this manner the distribution of water inthe entire area 110 being sprinkled can be controlled and regulated tobe substantially uniform notwithstanding overlapping of spray patterns.Obviously, more water can be sprinkled on the non-overlapped areas bythreading the bolts 95 inwardly to reduce the speed of rotation whileless water is obtained when the speed is increased by threading thebolts outwardly. If desired, the pads can be entirely removed so thatthe speed of rotation of the sprinkler is uniform circumferentially ofits path of movement thereby rendering the speed controlling apparatusineffective.

It is therefore evident that the subject invention enables control ofthe amount of fluid distributed over predetermined segments of an areato be irrigated. Although the invention has been described in connectionwith the irrigation of golf courses, it has utility in otherenvironments where it is desired to control the quantity of water beingdistributed over a predetermined area to be sprinkled. Further, althoughthe invention has been described in connection with a specific type ofrotary fluid sprinkler, its application is not to be so limited inasmuchas the mounting bracket 76 can be driven by numerous types of fluid orotherwise motivated sprinklers regardless of the specific manner inwhich the movement is achieved.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what isconceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it isrecognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of theinvention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed hereinbut is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace anyand all equivalent devices and apparatus.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a rotary fluid sprinkler, a support, tubular fluid conductingmeans rotatably mounted in the support for rotation about apredetermined axis having an end adapted to be connected to a source offluid under pressure and an opposite end adapted during rotation of saidmeans to distribute fluid in a predetermined area about said axis, saidfluid conducting means including fluid motivated means for impartingrotation thereto, a bracket freely rotatably mounted on the supportindependently of said fluid conducting means for rotation about saidaxis relative to the conducting means, a friction pad mounted on thebracket in radially spaced relation to said axis and movable with thebracket in an arcuate path concentric to said axis, a driving fingersecured to the fluid conducting means and extended into the path oftravel of the bracket for engagement with and thereby for impartingmovement to the bracket incident to movement of the fluid conductingmeans, and a brake member rigidly secured to the support and extendedtherefrom into the path of the pad for frictional engagement 'by the padso as to resist movement of the bracket and thereby the fluid conductingmeans during a portion of its path of movement.

2. In a rotary fluid sprinkler including an upwardly disposed housing,and a fluid conductor adapted for connection to a source of fluid underpressure journaled in the housing for rotation about an upwardlydisposed axis and having an upper fluid ejecting portion laterally outwardly extended from said axis and movable in-a predetermined pathsubstantially concentric to said axis incident to fluid ejectiontherefrom; apparatus for controlling the speed of rotation of theconductor during portions of said predetermined path comprising adriving member rigidly secured to the conductor and extended inlaterally spaced relation to the housing for movement with the conductorin a predetermined path, a brake member rigidly secured to the housingand radially outwardly extended therefrom in a predetermined plane, adriven bracket freely rotatably mounted on the housing in the path ofthe driving member so that movement is imparted to the driven memberincident to engagement by the driving member, and means mounted in thebracket in substantially the same plane as the brake member frictionallyengageable with the brake member during a portion of the travel of thebracket for reducing the speed of rotation of the conductor anddisengageable from the brake member during other portions of the travelof the bracket for allowing increased speed of rotation.

3. In an impact-driven, rotary fluid sprinkler, an upwardly disposedtubular housing, an elongated substantially cylindrical fluid conductingtube mounted in the housing for rotation about a substantially uprightaxis having a lower end adapted for connection to a source of fluidunder pressure and an end upwardly extended from the housing, a fluiddistributing body rigidly secured to the upwardly extended end of thetube adapted for rotary movement with the tube about said axis incidentto discharge of fluid from the distributing body, a mounting bracket,means freely rotatably mounting the bracket on the housing for rotationabout said axis, a friction pad mounted on the bracket in radiallyoutwardly spaced relation to said axis for rotation with the bracket ina predetermined path of travel substantially concentric to said axis, abrake member rigidly secured to the housing and radially outwardlyextended therefrom into the path of travel of the pad for frictionalengagement by the pad for resisting movement of the bracket during partof its rotation about said axis, and a driving finger rigidly secured tothe distributing body and extended into the path of rotation of thebracket for imparting rotary movement to the bracket about said axisincident to rotary movement of the distributing body.

4. In an impact-driven, stepped progression, rotary fluid sprinkler; anupwardly disposed tubular housing; an elongated substantiallycylindrical fluid conducting tube mounted in the housing for rotationabout a substantially upright axis having a lower end adapted forconnection to a source of fluid under pressure and an end upwardlyextended from the housing; a fluid distributing body rigidly secured tothe upwardly extended end of the tube adapted for rotary movement aboutsaid axis in stepped progression incident to discharge of fluid from thedistributing body; a driving finger rigidly secured to the distributingbody and extended longitudinally thereof toward the housing for movementin a predetermined path during rotation of the body; an annular collarrigidly mounted in circumscribing relation on the housing havingdiametrically related oppositely radially outwardly extended brakingportions providing outwardly disposed convex brake surfacessubstantially concentric to said axis; a mounting bracket including anannular hub rotatably mounted on the collar, diametrically related armsradially oppositely extended from the hub transversely in the path ofmovement of the driving finger, one of the arms being engageable by thefinger upon rotation of the distributing body to impart rotary movementto the bracket in stepped progression around said axis, and coaxialsleeves secured to the arms in radial relation to the axis in the sameplane as the braking portions of the collar and providing inner andouter open ends; resiliently compressible friction pads; meansindividually slidably mounting the pads in the sleeves for movementinwardly and outwardly of the inner ends of the sleeves; plugsreleasably fitted in the outer ends of the sleeves; and compressionsprings individually interposed the pad mounting means and the plugsyieldably urging the pads inwardly of the inner ends of the sleeves forfrictional engagement with the convex surfaces of said brake portionsduring rotation of the bracket thereby yieldably resisting rotation ofthe distributing body during part of its rotary movement.

5. In a rotary fluid sprinkler; an upwardly disposed tubular housing; anelongated substantially cylindrical fluid conducting tube mounted in thehousing for rotation about a substantially upright axis having a lowerend adapted for fluid connection to a source of fluid under pressure andan end upwardly extended from the housing; a fluid distributing bodyrigidly secured to the upwardly extended end of the tube adapted forrotary movement about said axis incident to discharge of fluid from thedistributing body; a driving finger rigidly secured to the distributingbody and extended longitudinally thereof toward the housing for movementin a predetermined path during rotation of the body; an annular collarrigidly mounted in circumscribing relation on the housing having aradially outwardly extended brake member providing a convex brakingsurface substantially concentric to said axis; a mounting bracketincluding an annular hub rotatably mounted on the collar, an armradially outwardly extended from the hub transversely in the path ofmovement of the driving finger and engageable thereby upon rotation ofthe distributing body to impart rotary movement to the bracket aroundsaid axis, and a sleeve secured to the arm in radial relation to the armin the same plane as the brake member of the collar and providing innerand outer open ends; and a resiliently compressible friction pad mountedin the sleeve and extended inwardly of the inner end of the sleeve forfrictional engagement with the brak ing surface of said brake memberduring rotation of the bracket and yieldably to resist rotation of thedistributing body during a portion of its rotary movement.

6. In a rotary, impact-driven, fluid sprinkler, a support, a fluiddistributing body adapted for connection to a source of fluid underpressure and rotatably mounted in the support for rotation about apredetermined axis and for discharging fluid over a predetermined areaincident to rotary movement, drive means operatively associated with thedistributing body resistably rotating said body in stepped progressionabout said axis, a brake member rigidly mounted on the support andextended outwardly therefrom in substantially radial relation to theaxis of rotation of the body, a wiping member, means supporting thewiping member and being freely rotatably mounted on the support for freerotation of the wiping member about said axis in a predetermined path,the brake being adjacent to said path for intermittent frictionalengagement of the wiping member with the brake member during suchrotation thereby to retard the speed of rotation of the wiping memberduring such frictional engagement, and drive means rigidly mounted onthe body and extended into the path of movement of said supporting meansfor engagement therewith upon rotary movement of the body to impartrotary movement to said supporting means, said drive means beingseparable from said wiping member supporting means.

7. In a fluid sprinkler having a housing adapted for connection to asource of fluid under pressure, and a sprinkler head rotatablymounted'onthe housing to receive fluid therethrough from such a sourceand being rotated relative to the housing by discharge of such fluid,which head includes as a part thereof nozzle means for spraying thefluid over a predetermined distribution pattern during its rotation; anapparatus for controlling the relative saturation of different areas inthe distribution pattern comprising a friction member, meansinterconnecting the friction member and the sprinkler head forsimultaneous movement with the friction member having a predeterminedpath of revolutionary travel circumscribing said axis, and a brakemember mounted in fixed position on the housing having a braking surfacedisposed in the path of travel of the friction member for intermittentengagement by the friction member during revolution of said memberthereby intermittently impeding rotation of the sprinkler head, saidfriction member and brake member being disengaged during portions of therevolution of the friction member whereby the revolutionary speed of thehead and friction member is relatively higher than during said period ofengagement, said interconnecting means incuding a bracket mounting thefriction member and freely rotatably mounted on the housing and adriving finger rigidly mounted on the sprinkler head and engageable withthe bracket for imparting rotation to the bracket incident to rotationof the head.

8. In a rotary fluid sprinkler including an upwardly disposed housing,and a fluid conductor adapted for connection to a source of fluid underpressure journaled in the housing for rotation about an upwardlydisposed axis and having an upper fluid ejecting portion laterallyoutwardly extended from said axis and movable in a predetermined pathsubstantially concentric to said axis incident to fluid ejectiontherefrom; apparatus for controlling the speed of rotation of theconductor during portions of said predetermined path comprising adriving member rigidly secured to the conductor and extended inlaterally spaced relation to the housing for movement with the conductorin -a predetermined path, a brake member rigidly secured to the housingand radially outwardly extended therefrom in a predetermined plane, adriven bracket freely rotatably mounted on the housing in the path ofthe driving member so that movement is imparted to the driven memberincident to engagement by the driving member, and means mounted in thebracket in substantially the same plane as the brake member frictionallyengageable with the brake member during rotation of the bracket forreducing the speed of rotation of the conductor, said brake engagingmeans being adjustable radially of said axis toward and away from thebrake member for increasing and decreasing the extent of frictionalengagement of said means with the brake member.

9. In an impact-driven, rotary fluid sprinkler, an upwardly disposedtubular housing, an elongated substantially cylindrical fluid conductingtube mounted in the housing for rotation about a substantially uprightaxis having a lower end adapted for connection to a source of fluidunder pressure and an end upwardly extended from the housing, a fluiddistributing body rigidly secured to the upwardly extended end of thetube adapted for rotary movement with the tube about said axis incidentto discharge of fluid from the distributing body, a mounting bracket,means freely rotatably mounting the bracket on the housing for rotationabout said axis, a friction pad mounted on the bracket in radiallyoutwardly spaced re lation to said axis for rotation with the bracket ina predetermined path of travel substantially concentric to said axis, abrake member rigidly secured to the housing and radially outwardlyextended therefrom into the path of travel of the pad for frictionalengagement by the pad for resisting movement of the bracket during partof its rotation about said axis, and a driving finger rigidly secured.to the distributing body and extended into the path of rotation of thebracket for imparting rotary movement to the bracket about said axisincident to rotary movement of 9 the distributing body,-said pad beingmounted in the bracket for adjustable movement radially inwardly andoutwardly of said axis toward and away from the brake member forenabling adjustment of the extent of frictional engagement of the padwith the brake member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,600,987 Gallice June 17, 1952 10 Unger Jan. 13, 1953 Lazzarini Oct. 6,1953 Landry May 1, 1956 Halt Oct. 27, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS AustraliaAug. 18, 1955

